Ciao!

Ciao!
That's how we say "hello" and "goodbye" in Italy. Kind of like how aloha is "hello" and "goodbye" in Hawaii. I arrived here a few days ago and have been suffering some pretty severe jet lag. I have been sitting through too many orientation lectures at the Universita Cattolotica which is the school that has the partnership with my abroad program. I am living in the most beautiful apartment with very high ceilings. I live with three other girls and an Italian RA. There are three bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room with a tv, and a kitchen. The coffeemaker is like no other coffeemaker I have ever seen. Its this metal pot that has three parts and you boil it on the stove. Also all the doors are very confusing...with latches instead of handles and strange sliding bits that are kind of awkward to coordinate.
When you order coffee here at a cafe or a coffee bar, you stand at the bar because they will charge extra to sit. Also, if you order coffee they bring you a small cup of an espress shot. You can't get the kind of 2o oz iced coffee like you can in the states. If you want more than just a little espresso shot you order a cappucino. However, their espresso shots are quite strong. Very effective (although nothing seems to be kicking this jet lag in the butt). The coffee culture is all very interesting.
We start Italian classes on Friday and I CANNOT wait. I feel like I cannot get around at all. So I am desperate to starting learning some Italian phrases.
Yesterday at the Universita Cattolotica, I was sitting with two other girls on this stone ledge that is in between these outdoor hallways and the grass courtyard (which you are not allowed to sit on- no puget sound style sun bathers permitted) and this short, older guy with a belly came up and said something in Italian to me. We all just looked at him blankly and kind of said "Whaaaat??" and he translated and told me "Not too much time in the sun, eh?" chuckle chuckle chuckle. Hilarious, right? Right.
I will post some pictures of my apartment, its gorgous view of all the beautiful surrounding buildings, and the funky coffee maker soon.
Ciao!